12 Sustainable Wrapping Ideas

Each year Americans alone use 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper, half of which ends up in a landfill. Here are some ideas to reduce, reuse, and repurpose this holiday season. 

1.     Transform a brown paper shopping bag into beautifully stenciled or painted wrapping paper. 

2.     Use a scarf bought at a second-hand store to bring a splash of fun and color to your gift (and it acts as a second gift itself).

3.     Watch an instructional video to learn how to do a no-tape method for wrapping.

4.     Create gift bags out of fabric scraps or old clothing with a few simple stitches. 

5.     Check your recycling bin for newspapers that work well as stylish wrapping paper.

6.     Upcycle those packing materials such as bubble wrap by painting them and using them as stamps to create a classic pattern on wrapping paper.

7.     Head to the woods and forage bits of evergreens or nature treasures to liven up a gift.

8.     Turn a chip bag inside out and it turns into a beautiful metallic wrapping material.

9.     Need a ribbon or bow – look at your closet and find that shirt that’s too far gone to donate and cut it into strips for a fun, sustainable way to dress up your gift. 

10.  Take a walk around your basement or attic and look for discarded things like old road maps, sheet music, or books with missing pages! 

11.  Look up tutorials online to try out the art of origami to make beautiful decorations and embellishments. 

12.  Save and re-gift from those who give to you. Weren’t able to do this for this year? No problem, pick a designated place to store and save for next year!